Mike Agassi, the father of tennis legend Andre Agassi, offered critical advice to Richard Williams amid a difficult period for Venus and Serena Williams. By late 2004, after years of Grand Slam success, both sisters had slipped out of the top five rankings and had not won a major singles title that year. Mike Agassi identified their intensive practice sessions with male players as a key factor behind their declining performance.

In an interview with Tennis Week, Mike Agassi explained that competing primarily against men pushed the Williams sisters to emphasize power and strength in their games, which inadvertently damaged their confidence and ability to maintain a solid serve.

“I was talking with Serena’s father and I said: ‘the reason your daughters are losing is because they are practicing with men.’ With the men, they hit the big shot that would be the winner against the women, but the men return it,” he said.

“You hit the big serve and the man returns, hit bigger and the men still returns it. You try to hit bigger and bigger until the ball goes out. Then you lose your serve and you lose your confidence,” he added. “Their game has gone down. They hit, once in a while, great balls, but their game has gone down a bit,” he added.

Impact of Russian Players’ Training Practices

During this same period, Russian players Anastasia Myskina, Maria Sharapova, and Svetlana Kuznetsova claimed three of the four Grand Slam titles, showcasing a shift in women’s tennis. Mike Agassi noted that these Russian stars benefited from regularly competing against one another in practice, which helped them develop consistent skills and confidence on the court.

“The Russian girls compete against each other and you see Russian girls win three of the four Grand Slams this year. They are absolutely not half of the talent of Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Serena Williams and Venus Williams don’t have their confidence on their shots anymore,” he said.

Strong Advice to Change Training Strategy

Mike Agassi urged the Williams sisters to change their approach and avoid practicing with male players if they intended to recapture their Grand Slam dominance. He suggested that many American female players mistakenly believed playing against men was the best way to improve, but he argued this method ultimately hindered their gameplay by encouraging power at the expense of precision and strategic shot placement.

“Stop practicing with the men. Serena and Venus, stop practicing with the men. Most of our American girls think if they practice with the men, he’s a better player, then I’ll get better. In some ways, yes, you get better playing with the better player. But you have to hit the ball — not just the big ball, but other shots (angles) — to see if the women can return it or not,” he said.

“I would like to see them play one women, Serena or Venus, against too good players on the other side in practice. Practice against two of them and if you can make the point against two good women then you can make the point against any of these girls in the world,” he added.

Serena Williams’ Training Habits and Early Confidence

Serena Williams’ childhood coach, Rick Macci, revealed that the tennis star preferred practicing against male players from a young age. He described Serena as fearless and confident, consistently outperforming older boys during practice sessions.

“In practice, all Serena did was play guys. She beat guys three to four years older than her. It didn’t matter who was on the other side of the net. She didn’t look at it like this girl is ranked this or that guy is 16,” Macci said.

Macci also shared a striking example of Serena’s early self-belief when, at just 11 years old, she claimed she was better than the tennis great John McEnroe despite his renowned career.

“At 11, she told me she thought she was better than John McEnroe. She said, ‘Did you ever see his strokes? He has terrible strokes. I can beat him for sure.’ It was silly, but she meant it from the heart. And she believed it. A great competitor is borderline cocky and courageous,” he added.

Additionally, Serena has reminisced about a childhood match against Andy Roddick, whom she defeated 6-1 when they were both 10 years old. The two have since fondly recalled that youthful contest with humor.

Significance and Future Outlook for the Williams Sisters

Mike Agassi’s perspective emphasizes the importance of tailored training and confidence building in women’s tennis. By moving away from exclusively practicing against men and challenging themselves against top female players, Venus and Serena Williams could adjust their strategy, regain their lost confidence, and potentially return to the forefront of Grand Slam competition. This advice underscores the delicate balance between power and precision necessary for success on the women’s tour.

As the tennis world continues to evolve, focusing on proper development within the female circuit could be vital for the Williams sisters to reclaim their positions at the top and compete effectively against the rising talents in women’s tennis.